Careers and Caring: Can Men Manage Both?

Abstract

Men’s and women’s lives are inextricably linked. What affects women affects men, and vice versa. The women’s movement in the United States has been inspiring and empowering women for nearly 25 years. Women now experience greater economic freedom and personal opportunity than ever before. Traditional male-dominated professions such as law, medicine, and business report substantial proportions of women. The professional labor force, which was 26% female in 1960, claims 39% women in its ranks today. The majority of these women have husbands and most have children.

Keywords

Burning Income Expense Ecstasy Hate

There is no question that the rewards of sharing career, achievement, and childrearing with one’s spouse are great, but the price paid can be high. It is a price that many of us raised as men never imagined we would have to pay, and therein lies much of the trouble. [One man’s view of struggles with a role-sharing dual-career marriage]1